Easily installed and non-defacing security latch

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention include door-securing latches that allow an occupant of a room or other space accessed through a door to secure the door, from inside the room or other space, in order to prevent entry or access by others. Embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanically strong and secure latch that cannot be easily broken or compromised by application of force to the door or by insertion of a tool or device between the door and an adjacent door frame to disable the latch, but that can be disabled by a knowledgeable individual, such as an apartment manger seeking to rescue a disabled apartment occupant in an emergency situation.

It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the following claims and their equivalents: 
     
       1. A security latch comprising
 a latch-pin track; 
 a door-frame mount having
 a generally flat sheet, with dimpled apertures through which screws mount the door-frame mount to a door frame, 
 a flange that is secured against the door frame, preventing the door-frame mount from being pushed outward as well as positioning the door-frame mount so that the latch is flush with the latch-pin track, and 
 a tenon arm; 
 
 an articulated latch arm that includes
 a first articulated-latch-arm segment having a first permanent magnet, 
 a second articulated-latch-arm segment having a second permanent magnet, and 
 a latch-pin that is slideably retained by the latch-pin track when the latch is deployed; 
 
 wherein once the latch-pin is inserted into the latch-pin track, the attraction between the first and second permanent magnets causes the first and second articulated-latch-arm segments to fold together. 
 
     
     
       2. The security latch of  claim 1  wherein the articulated latch arm further comprises:
 a link; 
 a first pivot pin that rotatably mounts the first articulated-latch-arm segment to the door-frame mount, the first pivot pin passing through an upper mortise arm and a lower mortise arm at a first end of the first articulated-latch-arm segment and the tenon arm extending from the door-frame mount; 
 a second pivot pin that rotatably mounts the first articulated-latch-arm segment to the link, the second pivot pin passing through an upper mortise arm and a lower mortise arm at a second end of the first articulated-latch-arm segment; 
 a third pivot pin that rotatably mounts the second articulated-latch-arm segment to the link, the third pivot pin passing through an upper mortise arm and a lower mortise arm at a first end of the second articulated-latch-arm segment; and 
 wherein the latch-pin is mounted to the second end of the second articulated-latch-arm segment. 
 
     
     
       3. The security latch of  claim 2  wherein the latch-pin track includes:
 a rectangular groove that extends across the latch-pin track; and 
 a latch-pin aperture through which the latch pin is inserted during deployment of the security latch. 
 
     
     
       4. The security latch of  claim 2  wherein the first articulated-latch-arm segment and the second articulated-latch-arm segment are hollowed, from the underside, to decrease the mass of the first articulated-latch-arm segment and the second articulated-latch-arm segment and to enable the articulated latch arm to be disabled by cutting in an emergency situation.